Inter Milan had previously achieved six consecutive Champions League home victories, and three straight wins at home against Dutch teams in the Champions League. During Benitez's tenure at Valencia and Liverpool, his teams remained unbeaten in eight matches against Dutch clubs. However, Inter Milan had recently gone five official games without a win (two draws and three losses), and Benitez was under serious pressure to secure a victory or risk being sacked. Materazzi returned from injury, with Cordoba shifting to right-back to replace Santon, while there were no other changes in positions. Twente trailed Inter by only two points and had previously visited Italy only once, when they defeated Juventus 1-0 in the UEFA Cup semi-final during the 1974-75 season.
In the 30th minute, Zanetti contested for the ball inside the penalty area with an opponent, and Jansen struck a powerful shot from 16 meters out that was brilliantly saved by Casteels. Subsequently, Chadli broke into the penalty area on the left flank and curled a shot wide of the far post! In the 36th minute, Pandev took a corner kick, the third one for his team, but Biabiany’s header went wide. In the 37th minute, Lucio cleared the ball inside the penalty area which was blocked by De Jong, who then dribbled past near the small box edge; fortunately, Casteels dived to claim the ball. In the 43rd minute, Sneijder and Eto'o both attempted long-range shots that were blocked. In the 45th minute, Eto'o passed back, Cambiasso aimed high and saw his shot headed away by Luijcks.
Lanzat replaced Janko. In the 73rd minute, Luijcks was booked for a foul on Biabiany. In the 75th minute, De Jong played the ball back, and Lanzat hit a curling shot from 20 meters out that struck the crossbar! In the 75th minute, Cordoba received a yellow card for a foul on Chadli. Subsequently, De Jong’s half-volley from just outside the penalty area missed the left post. Santon came on for Biabiany, and Boissey replaced Luijcks.
Five minutes into the second half, Eto'o chipped a shot from 25 meters out towards the bottom-right corner that Mihailov dived to save. Subsequently, Biabiany broke through on the right flank and crossed the ball, and Sneijder's left-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area missed the right post. In the 52nd minute, Stankovic's cold shot went over the bar. Inter Milan broke the deadlock in the 55th minute! Janko fouled Sneijder, who then struck a powerful free-kick from 25 meters out on the right side that deflected twice off opposing players. Cambiasso, 8 meters out, drove a left-footed shot into the bottom-left corner, making it 1-0!
Twente (4-3-3): 13-Mihailov/15-Rosales, 19-Douglas, 4-Visserhof (C), 34-Luijcks (80’23-Boissey)/6-Brama, 9-De Jong, 8-Jansen/10-Ruis, 21-Janko (7-Lanzat), 22-Chadli (Substitutes: 1-Boschkov, 14-Park, 27-Vucevic, 36-Simpersberg, 44-John).
In the 62nd minute, Senna delivered an impressive breakthrough. Starting along the left touchline, he maneuvered past one defender and then slipped through a double tackle before striking a powerful left-footed shot from 10 meters out towards the near post that Mihailov tipped over the bar. In the 64th minute, Eto'o's low shot from 25 meters out towards the near post was caught by Mihailov. In the 65th minute, Stankovic's outside-of-the-boot shot was saved by Mihailov to the left post.
Inter Milan almost scored in the 17th minute when Visserhof fouled Sneijder, whose free-kick from 20 meters out hit the crossbar! In the 20th minute, Biabiany's right-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area was collected by Mihailov. In the 23rd minute, Cambiasso sent a pass into the penalty area, and Pandev turned to strike a left-footed shot that Mihailov gathered. A minute later, Biabiany counterattacked and passed, and Eto'o curled a shot from 10 meters out inside the penalty area towards the far corner that Mihailov punched away! Stankovic followed up to shoot but lost his footing and missed.
International Milan (4-2-3-1): 12-Castelletto/2-Cordoba, 23-Materazzi, 6-Lucio, 4-Zanetti (C)/5-Stankovic, 19-Cambiasso/88-Biabiany (80’39-Santon), 10-Sneijder, 27-Pandev/9-Eto'o (Substitutes: 21-Orlandoni, 8-Motta, 34-Braghi, 40-Nwankevo, 48-Kriseti, 57-Natalino).
Sneijder hit the post, and Cambiasso saved Benitez as Inter Milan won 1-0 to advance early (13 images) [Enter Image Gallery].
At 3:45 am Beijing time on November 25 (20:45 Central European Time on November 24), the fifth round of Group A matches in the UEFA Champions League commenced with Inter Milan defeating Twente 1-0 at home. Sneijder's first-half free-kick hit the crossbar. In the second half, Cambiasso broke the deadlock, and Twente substitute Lanzat's long-range shot hit the bar. Tottenham Hotspur comfortably beat Werder Bremen 3-0 at home, with central defender Kaboul scoring in consecutive matches, Modric doubling the lead. In the second half, Bale missed a penalty, and Crouch sealed the win. Tottenham and Inter Milan both accumulated 10 points and advanced to the next round.
In the opening three minutes, Biabiany crossed from the right flank, and Sneijder, 5 meters out at the near post, volleyed wide! Subsequently, Pandev's left-footed low shot from the edge of the penalty area lacked power and was claimed by Mihailov. In the 8th minute, Eto'o passed, and Stankovic's shot from the edge of the penalty area sailed high. In the 10th minute, after a combination play between Sneijder and Pandev, Sneijder's curling shot was easily gathered by Mihailov.
Inter Milan nearly scored in the 68th minute through some slick combination play, with Eto'o sending a through ball in the penalty area, and Sneijder breaking clear to face goalkeeper Mihailov, but his outside-of-the-foot chip from 8 meters out missed the right post! A minute later, Zanetti broke through a defender inside the penalty area on the left flank and cut back, and Pandev returned the ball, but Stankovic's shot from the penalty spot flew high!
The visiting team had their first opportunity in the 12th minute when Chadli sent a diagonal cross from the left flank, and Ruiz's header from 7 meters out at the near post went wide. In the 13th minute, Eto'o broke through and passed, and Stankovic's shot was gathered by Mihailov. Subsequently, Materazzi fouled Janko, and Jansen took the free-kick with De Jong heading wide of the left post.